Project: Valentine

thestationeryplace

The point of the swap is to make pen pal friends, and -- of course! -- to send and receive lovely handmade stationery. cards don't need to be made entirely from scratch but should include some type of handmade element -- be creative and have fun with it! write a message inside, too (don't just send a blank card).

Hearts are just something that I don't craft enough with and often feel quite overwhelmed when having to do something with them as I don't know where to start so when I came across this swap I decided to take part in order to challenge myself especially with having to make 4 card! I don't celebrate festivals but I will exchange a little something if I feel up to it so Valentines Day this time turned out to be something like it... its only since I had make my day did I actually remember this day was around the corner in order to offer things on that blog.

 

I challenged myself to make 4 different cards which was indeed a challenge as it took me some time to get everything to fall in to place but I think they turned out ok in the end and I hope my partners enjoyed everything....

Even though I'd planned on sending my postcards without an envelope I had to in the end due to the gems etc... Its lethal me sending things in an envelope as I either end up going over the top or adding in extra things. In this case it was the extra things, I included an origami heart and 3 half made origami lucky stars.

Due to me getting over excited in creating my postcards I didn't think to write on the cards first and then add all the chunky bits so I ended up using a sheet of Diddl Scratch and Sniff chocolate which fitted in so well to write a note so my partners did get a blank card but got a lengthy note instead.

 

So far I've received 3 of my 4 cards which arrived in good time....

The first 2 pictures are the back and front of a card which was about the size of a poker card, The brown card came with a little handmade heart which I'm guessing is like a pencil topper as it has a pocket on the back and the last is a rainbow of hearts.

 

I have to admit with this swap I was quite disappointed. Its not the decoration of the card but the size and lack of wow in opening the envelope and card... To.... Happy Valentines Day...From... I was thinking I could have received a card like that from anyone... oh yeah! These cards are just from anyone! Obviously not in to a little chatty conversation, asking how one is, what they are doing for Valentines etc... I'm even one whose happy to read about ones weather in a country also. Its a good job I guess that I wasn't looking for a friend to write to as the idea of the swap states but even more that I stuck to that A6 sheet of paper (front and back).

 

Hopefully like they say, save the best till last... I have one more envelope to receive and I saw a sneaky peek on Instagram when I clicked the like button only for that person to reveal we were partners and one of those cards was for me.

 

Do you celebrate Valentines Day?

 Did you get anything nice?

Added

15.2.13

As I mentioned I had a feeling the best is still to come and this was truely it. A fun card with a super chatty note. It was such a joy to read and receive.

Project: Lovely Letters

It is that time again to show you my latest lovely letter. One of the things that my partner said she liked was books so I had to use one of my Alice in Wonderland sets but which one do I use was the question....

I ended up choosing the last one because it didn't just have Alice in Wonderland but also Little Red Riding Hood, Wizard of Oz and Snow White... might as well get really in to the Fairy Tale theme I guess. I also realised that I had two of the first set so I'm offering one on my other blog Make My Day, if you haven't done already maybe you'd like to have the chance of getting it by shouting Make My Day!

The writing paper is pretty plain in design and colour considering how much could have been done with these themes and I do find these sets quite boring but my writing looks great on them. I tend to use coloured pens, tapes and stickers anyway so it soon makes things look more cheerful.

I decorated my envelope to match the theme of Alice in Wonderland, even the book page matches as its about Guilotines and the Queen of Hearts wanted everyones heads chopped off.

I continued with the book theme by sending a booklet about Bradford, a leaflet on Haworth where the Bronte sisters grew up and wrote their books. As its a world heritage place its like stepping back in time. Also I included a postcard of the Wool Exchange which has a few shops in its building but majority of the building is occupied by Water Stones which is a book shop.

Even though my letter wasn't as long as last time and I had plenty of sheets to continue writing on I decided to do my 2nd task on the Wizard of Oz letter pad a friend sent me as it fitted in so well. I have to admit though that I really struggled with my 10 questions as I wanted them to be fun and challenging without the usual style of 'What's your favourite colour etc?....

Today I received my partners letters....

Its funny how my partner thought to use an Alice in Wonderland theme on her envelope too and it looks great. The stamps I loved and she included a few goodies.

Here are the 10 questions for me to answer which I'll send with my next letter.

How are you getting on with your Lovely Letter?

Project: Lovely Letters

I came across Kitty and Bucks and Modern Buttercups  Lovely Letters Swap on a few blogs and loved the idea of it so had to take part. I wasn't actually sure which blog to post it on but in the end decided that since this is going to be a project over 8 weeks I will blog about it here.

 

I waited patiently for my partner and I was actually looking forward to getting someone that I hopefully hadn't come across whether male or female but also with the possibility of it being a UK pen-friend since they mentioned trying to partner people close by. I have always mostly written to people outside the UK so at times I think I would love to write to someone closer to home. Still it probably cheaper for me to send mail abroad then in my own country these days.

 

Well the day arrived and went by... but still I continued to wait and eventually 2 days later I got an e-mail to announce my partner who is from.... Portugal which I'm not actually sure if I've ever written to anyone there (if I have it wasn't for long as I can't remember them) but also I've got a partner 10 years younger then me which is something else new for me as I usually only have friends with about 5 years difference between us which of course was all part of meeting someone different for me. I'm sure we'll get along fine.

 

I really wanted to make my own paper for this project but those of you that write to me will know how much I can chatter on that its quite impossible to estimate how many sheets I'll need. Also with time being some what limited as the deadline to send was the 9th October I had to think of a letter set to use instead. One of the things my partner listed about themselves was a love for collages which instantly made me think of using one of my many collage style sets and this is the one I'd chosen to write on...

I received this letter set for my birthday and loved it a lot on opening it but it didn't suit my writing at all and I hope my partner was able to read my letter which as usual ended up extremely long so I hope it wasn't off putting as my partner I guess is in to shorter letters as I received a page from her along with some interesting photos of where she lives. I decorated the envelope according to what was going on the pages even though it isn't as colourful.

I didn't have a recent or nice photo of myself so I included some collage pieces as something close to my heart as I letter writing, paper crafts and reading are my wind down things.

This is the envelope she sent me which also fits in with my theme of collages. Whilst writing to my partner my mind kept jumping ahead to what letter set I would use next time to fit in with her other loves...

 

Did you also take part in this swap?

 Have you blogged about it as I'd love to see your creative envelope but also your create letter too.